TWO special services will be held next month to honour the 20 recipients of this year's Cross of St Piran Awards.

The awards, which recognise the outstanding service given by lay people across Cornwall, were introduced by Bishop Tim soon after his arrival in the Diocese. Among those honoured this year are a church organist, an environmental campaigner, the executive principal of a schools’ trust, and an aid worker for their work with refugees.

They will be presented with their crosses at two ceremonies to be held at St Piran Church, Perranzabuloe at 3pm and 6.30pm on Sunday, March.

Among those to receive the award is Rowley Surridge who, with a band of volunteers, has worked relentlessly to help the vulnerable refugees and migrants on the French coastline. Rowley was one of a small team from All Saints, Highertown, who looked into practical ways of getting help to where it was needed most.

After the first fact-finding trip to the refugee camp in August 2015, Rowley set about galvanising support in Cornwall to source, collect, store and transport vital aid. Having made contact with aid agencies working on the ground in France, the team over here were better placed to know exactly what was needed. With each trip they subsequently made and with the ever changing landscape over there, Rowley was particularly keen to ensure that the growing bank of goodwill be used to maximum effect.

This meant strengthening the community, mastering social media, making links with more organisations in France, and co-ordinating efforts with other churches, groups and bodies of people in Cornwall doing something similar. And, vitally, talking with and listening to the refugees themselves. Close to the top of Rowley’s wish-list was to be as targeted as possible, to honour the heartfelt efforts everyone else had made – whether that’s by turning duvets into sleeping bags, preparing supplies in readiness for what is actually needed, arranging for surplus to be recycled or making the best use out of a generous, anonymous donation of 16 brand new tents.

Rowley, who is also a street pastor, said: “I never ask people for money, I just ask that they pray.”